Two condominiums in Tokyo and one condominium in Aichi Prefecture will each receive two of a total of six Prius Plug-in Hybrid and iQ-based electric vehicle units managed by nearby Toyota vehicle rental and lease companies.

TMC, in collaboration with condominium developers and IHI Transport Machinery Co. Ltd., a parking facility manufacturer, will design parking facilities and charging equipment. Further details of the program, such as car-sharing costs to users, have yet to be decided.

Car sharing has become more popular among people in urban areas who do not own cars, and it is also gaining public attention as a countermeasure against global warming and oil dependency. In response to these trends, TMC, aiming to connect people with a new way of using future vehicles, decided to carry out this car-sharing program using next-generation plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles.

Comments

A worthwhile alternative to three large gas guzzler per family. Getting rid of fixed weekends could make it more appealing. Work 4 days with 2 off and change/move off days on a rotation basis so that only 1/3 would be off at any one time.

Car sharing will probably not be popular in the U.S. unless people have to do it and right now they do not. Even car pooling is shunned by people, there are no databases here to match up people and save fuel. It will not happen until gas in not available whenever you want it, THEN it sinks in.

@SJC: Car sharing is booming in some urban areas (Zipcar, etc.). If I lived in a dense metro I'd definitely sign up. I think attitudes about car ownership are changing and will change even faster as it becomes clear that the days of cheap gasoline are gone forever.